Francis Joseph Hoversten 1930-2011

HOVERSTEN CARROLL BURLINGHAM

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/13/2011 at 19:31:30

Sioux City Journal
23 February 2011

SIOUX CITY -- Francis J. "Frank" Hoversten, 80, of Platte, S.D., formerly of Sioux City, passed away Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011, at the Platte Health Center.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Platte. Committal services will be 2:30 p.m. Friday in the Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, S.D. Visitation will be 5 to 6 p.m. today at Mount Funeral Home in Platte. There will be a rosary at wake service at 7 p.m. today at the church. Expressions of sympathy may be extended to the family through www.mountfuneralhome.com.

Francis Joseph Hoversten was born Oct. 24, 1930, to Joseph and Gertrude (Carroll) Hoversten, on a farm near Marshall, Minn. His education included country grade school, St. Boniface and Trinity High (now Trinity Heights) in Sioux City, Iowa State University and several military schools. He was employed at the T.S. Martin Company and a packing house in Sioux City before starting his 30-year military career in the U.S. Air Force in August of 1950.

Frank was united in marriage to Elizabeth Burlingham in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in February 1951. Frank had lived and worked in Minnesota, Iowa, Texas, Korea, Wisconsin, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada Test Site, Oklahoma, Canada, Germany and South Dakota before retiring to Lompoc, Calif., having achieved the highest enlisted rank in the U. S. Air Force, chief master sergeant. He was very proud of his Air Force career and his country.

On Nov. 8, 1971, Frank united in marriage to Joan (Novy) Higgins in Las Vegas, Nev.

He enjoyed gardening, working on home improvements, researching investments and surfing the Web. Frank was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church in Platte, the Air Force Sergeants Association, American Legion, Elks Lodge, Moose Lodge, VFW and the 18th Fighter Wing Association.

Grateful for having shared in Frank's life were his wife of more than 39 years, Joan Hoversten of Platte, S.D.; his children, Michael Hoversten (Kathleen) of Santa Cruz, Calif., Therese Ward (Ray) of Arroyo Grande, Calif., Patrick Hoversten of Bakersfield, Calif., and Mary Borba (Michael) of Hidden Valley, Calif.; two stepchildren, James Higgins of Paris, Texas, and Catherine Hedrick of Phoenix, Ariz.; 15 grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; five great-stepgrandchildren; two brothers, Louis Hoversten (Wanda) of Cainsville, Mo., and Bernard Hoversten (Dorothy) of Sioux City; three sisters, Sr. Mary Colleen, OSF of Dubuque, Iowa, Martha Uhl (Leo) of Danbury, Iowa, and Bernice Kubal (John) of Brookings, S.D.; a sister-in-law, Arlene Novy of Grass Valley, Calif.; along with many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Gertrude; a son, Joseph "Jody" and wife, Elizabeth.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Frank's honor may be directed to: American Cancer Society Relay for Life, 35732 270th St., Platte, SD 57369 or Wings & Hope Cancer Fund, PO Box 192, Platte, SD 57369.